Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange is set to resume trading on Tuesday, March 24, following a week-long pause for the Eid Al-Fitr holiday. The Tadawul — formally known as the Saudi Exchange — suspended activity on March 17 as the Kingdom entered the national holiday, with equity, sukuk, and derivatives markets all offline during the break. The reopening marks a return to normal market operations ahead of a closely watched event scheduled for the very next day.
FTSE Russell Rebalancing on March 25
The timing of the market’s return is significant. FTSE Russell, one of the world’s most influential index providers, is scheduled to implement changes to the composition of its Saudi market constituents on Wednesday March 25 — just 24 hours after Tadawul reopens. These periodic rebalancing events, which adjust the weightings and membership of index constituents, tend to influence the behaviour of foreign institutional investors who benchmark their portfolios against FTSE’s indices.
When FTSE Russell reshuffles its Saudi exposure, it typically triggers corresponding activity among passive and active fund managers who need to align their holdings with the updated index. This can produce measurable flows into or out of specific Tadawul-listed securities, and the proximity of the rebalancing to the market’s reopening adds an additional dimension to the first session back from the holiday.
Market Context as Tadawul Returns
The Saudi All Share Index, known as TASI, closed at 10,946 points on March 16 — the final trading day before the Eid break. The market had been broadly constructive in recent weeks, supported by a series of robust economic data releases including a 26% rise in Saudi Arabia’s trade surplus during Q4 2025, a six-year high in foreign reserve assets, and strong non-oil export growth. These indicators provide a solid macroeconomic backdrop as investors return to their screens.
Saudi Arabia’s inclusion in major global indices — both FTSE and MSCI — has significantly deepened the Tadawul’s foreign investor base since its international debut in 2019. The ongoing rebalancing process is part of the normal rhythm of index management, reflecting the continued evolution of the Saudi market’s composition as new listings, corporate actions, and changes in free float interact with index eligibility criteria.
A Busy Week Ahead for Saudi Markets
With trading set to resume on Tuesday and the FTSE rebalancing due on Wednesday, the first post-holiday week for the Saudi market is shaping up to be an active one. Investors will also be watching for updates on Aramco’s dividend timeline and any guidance from the quarterly earnings season that gets under way in the weeks ahead. The return from the Eid break traditionally marks the start of a period of heightened attention on the Tadawul, as the Kingdom’s economic story continues to attract growing international interest.
